At a media briefing at Gresham City Hall, Lorilei Ritmiller said she was speaking out to both show support for Heichel's husband Clint and to reiterate that Heichel is beloved in her tight-knit community. She implored anyone with information to call police.

"She's sunshine in our heart," Ritmiller said. "She's gentle. She's compassionate ... She's this compassionate laughing person. Her heart's as big as the sun ... This is just a great human being. This is a person you'd think no one could ever hurt."

Ritmiller said Heichel was at her house on Monday, the night before she disappeared. The family was preparing for an upcoming wedding. She said her daughter was talking about her future, noting her desire to be a mother.

"That was her biggest hope -- to have babies," she said.

After Ritmiller spoke, Heichel's husband made his way to the podium. After showing little emotion while family spokesperson Jim Vaughn, Gresham Police Department Lt. Claudio Grandjean and Gresham Police Chief Craig Juninger addressed the media, Clint Heichel reached the podium and broke down in tears.

After being comforted by Juninger, Heichel eventually left the podium without giving a statement.

Whitney Heichel went missing Tuesday after she failed to arrived at her job at a nearby Starbucks. Gresham police called her disappearance "suspicious" and Grandjean reiterated that again Thursday, citing the nature of her disappearance.

"Generally speaking, stranger-on-stranger crime is not very common," Grandjean said.

Know something? Call the Gresham Police tip line: (503) 618-2719

Still, investigators have several theories they are working through, but all possibilities remain open, Grandjean said.

"We're not giving up," said family spokesman Jim Vaughn. "We're keeping positive about this whole situation."

A Starbucks spokeswoman said the company is "deeply concerned" about Whitney and that they are working with investigators to help in any way possible.

Starbucks is letting the family and police put missing person flyers in their stores.

Hopeful for the safe return of Whitney Heichel. We’re working to support authorities, family & friends at this difficult time. #findwhitney

Whitney's Ford Explorer was found abandoned at around 11 a.m. Tuesday in the parking lot of the Wood Village Walmart at 23500 N.E. Sandy Boulevard. The passenger side window was smashed and the tires were muddy.

In a briefing on Thursday afternoon, Grandjean said investigators found "some important items" during their search, although he would not elaborate.

Investigators have also pulled and reviewed video in areas of Wood Village, Fairview and Troutdale where they think Heichel was Tuesday morning.

"We've found video that's been helpful for us," Grandjean said, although he refused to comment further on specifics. Both Starbucks and WalMart, along with other businesses, have provided police with lots of security footage.

Grandjean said tips have been pouring into the police department's tip line, saying that 25 new tips came in Wednesday yesterday. Around two dozen more came in on Thursday.

“The evidence and leads have not gone cold," Grandjean said. "The goal is to find her.”